Hyundai said that this week it will begin building a new four-cylinder engine that will be the centerpiece in its goal to becoming the auto industry’s fuel economy leader. The engine, which will be built at Hyundai’s Alabama plant, will debut in the company’s most popular car, the 2011 Sonata.

The company said its new 2.4-liter Theta II GDI engine features gasoline direct injection technology that operates with greater efficiency using less fuel, creating fewer emissions and delivering improved throttle response, all while making more power than a traditional port-injected engine. Hyundai said the 2011 Sonata will deliver 35 miles per gallon in highway driving.

Hyundai had announced in late 2008 that it would lead the industry in meeting newly proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, that would have required a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2020. The company said it planned to reach that target five years early through a combination of new technologies, including hybrids and gasoline direct injection. The Obama administration has since proposed more aggressive standards of 35.5 mpg by 2016, which Hyundai said it supports and plans to meet ahead of schedule.

Hyundai’s Theta I-4 engine family is a proprietary design, engineered in Namyang, Korea and currently in production for applications all over the world at volumes exceeding 2 million annually, the company said. The new Theta II 2.4L GDI engine will deliver an estimated 200 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm and 186 lb.-ft. of torque @4,250 rpm.

The most significant technology in the new engine is direct injection, which uses individual fuel injectors for each cylinder strategically positioned to deliver the optimal fuel charge directly into the combustion chamber. In a traditional multi-port system, gasoline is delivered via the port of each cylinder, where it mixes with air and is drawn into the cylinders when the intake valve opens and the piston moves down. Hyundai said a drawback to the traditional system is when engine speeds increase, the time to open the valve to deliver fuel becomes progressively shorter making accurate delivery more challenging.

GDI avoids that issue and the shorter, more direct path of fuel delivery, allows for greater control of the optimum fuel mixture at the optimum moment, thus improving efficiency. Hyundai said that compared to a conventional engine of the same displacement, GDI delivers 7 percent more torque at low engine rpm’s and 12 percent more torque at the high-end for better take-off and overtaking performance. GDI boosts gas mileage by up to 10 percent compared to a conventional engine.

Hyundai said the new GDI technology will be expanded over time to the entire family of Hyundai gasoline engines.

A host of new greener vehicles will be making their North American debuts at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show from Dec. 4 through Dec. 13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Mercedes-Benz will show off the fuel-sipping E350 BlueTEC and the fuel-cell-powered F-Cell. The company also will showcase the just-launched ML450 Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz’s first hybrid SUV.

Essentially an electric car that makes its own power on board, the new Mercedes-Benz F-Cell  has a range of about 240 miles and, running on compressed hydrogen, boasts an equivalent fuel mileage of 86.6 city-highway combined miles per gallon. In 2010, Mercedes-Benz says 200 production F-Cell cars will be delivered to customers in the U.S. and Europe as part of a special lease program.

The car show also will include the E350 BlueTEC,  powered by a 3.0-liter V6 diesel with 210 horsepower that delivers 400 lb.-ft. of torque and approximately 30 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine. Mercedes-Benz says the car uses “AdBlue injection” that makes diesel exhaust super-clean. The E350 BlueTEC will go on sale in all 50 states in spring 2010.

Making its West Coast debut at the L.A. Auto Show, the Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid uses a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, two electric motors and sophisticated electronics to produce more than 46 percent better fuel economy than a comparable V8-powered ML550 model. Integrated within the modified automatic transmission, each magneto-electric motor is dedicated to a specific purpose — one for pulling away under electric power, the other specifically for acceleration. With both electric motors, the ML450 Hybrid has a total system performance of 335 horsepower and 381 pound-feet of torque.

Honda concept shows potential of ultra-compact, city-focused vehicle

Honda will present the world debut of its Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT)  at at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 2. The company also plans to demonstrate a futuristic concept for an ultra-compact, aggressively designed coupe. The Advanced Design Studio of Honda R&D Americas in Los Angeles developed the P-NUT design study model.

Mazda to Unveil All-New Small Car at 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show

The 2011 MAZDA2 will make its North American debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show next month. (Photo: PRNewsFoto/Mazda North American Operations)

The 2011 MAZDA2 will make its North American debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show as well.  The vehicle will be sold in the U.S. and Canada beginning in late 2010.

Takashi Yamanouchi, representative director, president and CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation, will debut the car to media Dec. 2. In addition to a stock MAZDA2, a selection of unique MAZDA2 vehicles will be on display to showcase the car’s creative potential and versatility, the company said.

MAZDA2 has won 48 awards and has been recognized as Car of the Year in more than 20 countries.

Chevrolet to show its green side

Chevrolet said it will affirm its commitment to fuel solutions and building refined, eco-friendly vehicles with the debut of the U.S. production version of the Cruze sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 2. The Cruze, along with the much-anticipated Volt electric vehicle, will give visitors to the L.A. show a close-up view of Chevrolet’s expanding lineup of gas-friendly to gas-free products.

“With expected highway fuel economy up to 40 miles per gallon, Cruze will be extremely gas friendly while the Volt electric vehicle can be operated gas-free,” Brent Dewar, vice presidentof Chevrolet, said in a statement. “Chevrolet’s focus is on forward-looking technologies to the benefit of our customers, such as the highly efficient, small-displacement turbocharged engine in the Cruze or the Volt electric vehicle with extended range.”

The Cruze has already launched in Europe and Asia. It goes on sale in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2010 but has already logged more than 4 million miles in quality and durability testing worldwide, making it one of the most globally tested Chevrolet products prior to a U.S. launch, the company said.

Cruze is designed to achieve class-leading highway fuel economy using a new family of efficient engines that include a 1.4L turbo.

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended-range capability. It is expected to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt’s lithium-ion battery is depleted of energy, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the total driving range to more than 300 miles before refueling.

Chevrolet said it will announce plans for initial retail markets where the Volt will be sold. Production for the Volt is expected to begin in late 2010. Pricing has not been announced.

From Nov. 27-29, the Volt will be on display next to Bloomingdale’s at the Westfield Century City mall in West Los Angeles. During regular mall hours, visitors to the Chevrolet Volt display may get two free tickets each to the L.A. Auto Show, while supplies last. The L.A. Auto Show opens to the public Dec. 4.

Mercedes-Benz will launch the ML450 Hybrid (Photo: PRNewsFoto/Mercedes-Benz USA)

From Green Right Now Reports

Mercedes-Benz said today that on Nov. 16 it will launch the first European full hybrid vehicle to be offered in the US. The company said the ML450 Hybrid will feature “V8-like power with four-cylinder fuel economy.”

The new Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid uses a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine and two magneto-electric motors that produce 46 percent better fuel economy than a comparable V8-powered ML550 model. The SUV achieves 21 miles per gallon around town and 24 mpg on the highway.

Integrated within the modified automatic transmission, each electric motor serves a specific purpose. Dedicated to pulling away under electric power, the motor on the transmission output shaft generates 80 hp and 192 lb.-ft of torque.

Mercedes-Benz says the second electric motor, located closer to the gasoline engine, is set up specifically for acceleration and is rated at 83 hp and 173 lb.-ft of torque. When both electric motors are in use at full power, the ML450 Hybrid reaches 335 hp and 381 lb.-ft. of torque.

During parking and low-speed operation, the SUV runs on electric drive only. It can drive solely on electric power up to a maximum speed of 34 mph.

The ML450 Hybrid joins Mercedes-Benz’s existing lineup of fuel-efficient and environmentally compatible vehicles that includes the S400 Hybrid and the BlueTEC diesel model.

Mercedes-Benz said the new SUV will be offered as part of a special lease only option (no purchase available) for a monthly price of $659 per month for 36 months and $549 per month for 60 months.

(Photo: Continental Airlines)

From Green Right Now Reports

Houston-based Continental Airlines today announced a major increase in the amount of waste being recovered in its recycling programs following the company’s decision to put special emphasis on recycling projects.

As the United States prepares to observe “America Recycles Day” on Sunday, Continental said that so far in 2009, it has collected more than 4 million pounds of mixed recyclables from terminal operations at its Houston Bush Intercontinental, New York/Newark Liberty and Cleveland Hopkins hubs – an 800 percent year-over-year increase. Mixed recyclables include newspapers, cans, and plastic bottles contributed by co-workers and customers via designated “EcoSkies” recycling bins in hub airport terminals.

“While Continental has had a robust recycling program for more than a decade, we have made substantial enhancements to the program throughout 2008 and 2009, increasing recycling onboard our aircraft, at our airport terminals and at other supporting facilities, like our food service kitchens,” Leah Raney, Continental’s managing director of global environmental affairs, said in a statement. “We have had strong encouragement and support from our co-workers and customers, and we are excited to see such great results from our expanded recycling program.”

In 2008, Continental’s expanded inflight and flight kitchen recycling efforts resulted in the recovery of more than 462 tons pounds of plastic and aluminum, and more than 1,300 tons of cardboard. So far in 2009, Continental has more than doubled that amount, recovering more than 1,500 tons of plastic and aluminum, and more than 30,000 tons of cardboard.

Continental also works with contract caterers at the non-hub airports it serves to encourage recycling; today, more than 91 percent of Continental’s domestic caterers and more than 87 percent of its international caterers recycle.

Due to Continental’s focus on increasing its recycling efforts in 2009 alone, Continental has:

• Recycled enough aluminum to build 20 Boeing 777 airplanes
• Saved more than 584,300 trees
• Saved enough water to meet the monthly freshwater needs of 106,900 homes
• Saved enough energy to heat and cool more than 49,600 homes
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 35,208 metric tons
• Reduced carbon footprint to landfills by saving 116,900 cubic yards of waste

Continental said proceeds from its recycling program are re-invested in the program or donated to We Care, a nonprofit charity organization that provides financial assistance to Continental employees in need.

Watch out San Francisco, you’re not the only city striving to put electric cars on the road. Today, you’ll be joined by Elk Horn, Iowa, where Coulomb Technologies is installing EV charging stations.

The Danish Windmill in Elk Horn (Photo: DanishWindmill.com)

After a ribbon-cutting today, four ChargePoint stations will be available for public use in the small city between Des Moines and Omaha, thanks to support from Iron Eagle Technologies, the Danish Windmill, AmericInn Motels and the Elk Horn Service Station. Coulomb’s distributor Carbon Day Automotive also joined this group effort to bring clean renewable energy to Elk Horn.

The stations will be the first of many envisioned for the I-80 corridor through Iowa and Nebraska. They are the first installed in Iowa, and the first between Chicago and Denver, helping add to a network that aims to span the country – which helps answer the question “Why Iowa?”

Another way of looking at it, according to President and CEO of Iron Eagle Technologies (IET), Mike Howard, is to ask “Why Not Iowa?”

“Although it’s not well known, the first successful electric vehicle was actually invented in Iowa by William Morrison.  We’ve come a long way since then, and Iron Eagle Technologies is committed to putting the EV focus back in the heartland,” he said.

IET, a testing company that consults, evaluates and helps develop clean energy, including EV vehicles, wind and solar energy, provided the impetus for bringing the stations to the southwest corner of Iowa. The company’s “World EVAL” program will be testing and certifying electric vehicles and EV components.

The new ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations will be open to all drivers of plug-in vehicles. The networked repowering stations provide authentication, management and real-time control using web-based portals that drivers and fleet managers can use. For more info on how the Chargepoint system works see the Coulomb website  Drivers can also find a listing of stations at the website.

The ribbon cutting ceremony, at the town’s iconic (and fittingly green) Danish Windmill, will be a celebration of possibilities with officials speaking about the need to put EV infrastructure in place for future transportation and EV manufacturers offering rides in EV vehicles.

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

Ford's Flex uses a new wheat-byproduct in place of plastic. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

From Green Right Now Reports

Ford Motor Company, working with academic researchers and one of its suppliers, said it is the first automaker to develop and use environmentally friendly wheat straw-reinforced plastic in a vehicle.

The first application of the natural fiber-based plastic that contains 20 percent wheat straw bio-filler is on the 2010 Ford Flex’s third-row interior storage bins, the company said. This application reduces petroleum usage by some 20,000 pounds per year, reduces CO2 emissions by 30,000 pounds per year, and represents a smart, sustainable usage for wheat straw, the waste byproduct of wheat.

“Ford continues to explore and open doors for greener materials that positively impact the environment and work well for customers,” Patrick Berryman, a Ford engineering manager who develops interior trim, said in a statement. “We seized the opportunity to add wheat straw-reinforced plastic as our next sustainable material on the production line, and the storage bin for the Flex was the ideal first application.”

Ford said its researchers were approached with the wheat straw-based plastics formulation by the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, as part of the Ontario BioCar Initiative – a multi-university effort between Waterloo, the University of Guelph, University of Toronto and University of Windsor. Ford works closely with the Ontario government-funded project, which is seeking to advance the use of more plant-based materials in the auto and agricultural industries.

The University of Waterloo already had been working with plastics supplier A. Schulman of Akron, Ohio, to perfect the lab formula for use in auto parts, ensuring the material is not only odorless, but also meets industry standards for thermal expansion and degradation, rigidity, moisture absorption and fogging. Less than 18 months after the initial presentation was made to Ford’s Biomaterials Group, the wheat straw-reinforced plastic was refined and approved for the Flex, which is produced at Ford’s Oakville (Ontario) factory.

The wheat straw-reinforced resin is the “BioCar” initiative’s first production-ready application. Ford said it demonstrates better dimensional integrity than a non-reinforced plastic and weighs up to 10 percent less than a plastic reinforced with talc or glass. ”

An interior storage bin may seem like a small start, but it opens the door for more applications, said Dr. Ellen Lee, technical expert for Ford’s Plastics Research. “We see a great deal of potential for other applications since wheat straw has good mechanical properties, can meet our performance and durability specifications, and can further reduce our carbon footprint – all without compromise to the customer.”

Already under consideration by the Ford team are possible uses for center console bins and trays, interior air registers, door trim panel components and armrest liners.

The case for using wheat straw to reinforce plastics in higher-volume, higher-content applications is strong across many industries. In Ontario alone, where the Flex is built, more than 28,000 farmers grow wheat, along with corn and soybeans. Typically, wheat straw, the byproduct of growing and processing wheat, is discarded. Ontario, for example, has some 30 million metric tons of available wheat straw waste at any given time, Ford says.

“Wheat is everywhere and the straw is in excess,” said Lee. “We have found a practical automotive usage for a renewable resource that helps reduce our dependence on petroleum, uses less energy to manufacture, and reduces our carbon footprint. More importantly, it doesn’t jeopardize an essential food source.”

To date, Ford says it and its suppliers are working with four southern Ontario farmers for the wheat straw needed to mold the Flex’s two interior storage bins.

Ford’s interest in wheat dates back to the 1920s, when company founder Henry Ford developed a product called Fordite – a mixture of wheat straw, rubber, sulphur, silica and other ingredients – that was used to make steering wheels for Ford cars and trucks. Much of the straw used to produce Fordite came from Henry Ford’s Dearborn-area farm.

The Alliance to Save Energy is promoting its Drive Smarter Challenge in anticipation of Americans being on the move for the holidays. The challenge offers tips to bolster your mileage and other ways to trim transportation costs, some more effective (rent a hybrid) than others (use the right oil for a 2 percent improvement in mileage).

But even though these travel tips are wildly divergent – take a train, drive during off-peak hours – they should get most families thinking about conserving in these still-tough economic times.

The Drive Smarter Challenge website offers some concrete help (get it?) with advice for creating a customized map for your route that identifies stops with inexpensive gas. The info page sends you to MapQuest’s Gas Prices, which samples prices around the country, finding, for instance, that Northfork W. Va. has gas for $1.99 a gallon (which is an interesting factoid but unhelpful if your relatives live in Missoula.

Drive Smarter also points you toward GasBuddy.com, which lists local gas prices for dozens of cities in the US and Canada and shows regional trends. (And yes, there’s a mobile phone app.)

Type in your city or destination at Gas Buddy.com and you can get a read-out of the “Lowest Regular Gas Prices in the Last 24 Hours.” Checking for Chicago that turned up gas prices ranging from $2.89 a gallon at a Shell and a Gas Depot on the Northwest side to $3.29 at a Citgo at DesPlaines and Taylor streets. The difference is probably not worth driving to a station outside of your neighborhood, for goodness sakes.

So what to do with this information?

It could conceivably help you decide whom in your clan to grace with your presence this holiday. Got relatives in Houston? It’s cheaper to drive there ($2.34 to $2.38 for a gallon of petrol) than to visit those fossil-fuel fancy pants in San Francisco ($2.87 to $3.49). Of course, once you get to the Bay Area you can at least take public transportation, something Houston is still working on.

Okay, so the price of gas probably won’t dictate where you go this holiday.

But it could be one thing on a list of ways you tighten up your energy profile.

Along with all the tips about how to make your car run more efficiently (inflate the tires, don’t idle, don’t drive like a jackrabbit), The Drive Smarter Challenge recommends that you incorporate public transportation, biking, walking or ride sharing in your travel plans.

Now there’s a smart driving plan: Don’t drive.

(The Drive Smarter Challenge campaign is hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy, but it has many other partners, from the American Petroleum Institute to the League of American Bicyclists.)

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

Let’s be honest. Airplanes are big offenders when it comes to emissions and use of fossil fuels. Yet even though solutions to that problem are a ways off, some airlines are trying to green other aspects of their operations.

(Photo: Southwest Airlines)

The newest effort: Last week, Southwest Airlines flew its first “green plane,” a Boeing 737-700 loaded with environmentally conscious elements.

What makes it green?

• A recyclable carpet that also reduced labor and materials (because it was installed in sections).
• Two types of seat covers, both environmentally friendly. On one side of the aisle is “e-Leather” – made from recycled materials discarded by the leather industry and upgraded to composition, man-made leather. Across the aisle, seats are covered in IZIT Leather, a new alternative material. All the seats weigh about 2 pounds less than their predecessors.
• A lighter-weight canvas container for the life vest (replacing metal ones) that will also create more room under the seats.
• A lighter-weight fill for the back of the seats.

Reducing an airplane’s weight is a significant factor in emissions and fuel use. Marilee McInnis, a Southwest representative, said that their green plane is 519 pounds lighter than a comparable model outfitted the old way.

(Photo: Southwest Airlines)

In addition to the interior changes on the plane, Southwest is kicking off an effort to improve recycling onboard all its flights with a “co-mingled” system that will allow all recyclable items to go into a single container.

Examining how waste was handled took 18 months of study and work by five groups, including facilities maintenance workers and ground operations. “We had to implement co-mingled recycling on the ground first,” McInnis said.

Southwest may be the first airline to test “eco-friendly products” onboard an airplane, McInnis said.

There are other changes that Southwest is mulling. “We are looking at different windscreen (bulkheads) materials that are more durable and slightly lighter,” she said.

Southwest’s 35-member “Green Team” was an active participant in planning the revamped plane. That team tries to “put a green filter on the business decisions being made and to try these eco-friendly materials on one aircraft,” McInnis said. “We believe that environmental decisions also make good business sense and this plane is proof of that – it’s good for the bottom line, saving fuel and labor costs, but it is also good for the planet.”

The Green Team has representatives from all of Southwest’s major operating groups, and it meets every few weeks to look for ways to “green up” the company. “We also have a Green Ambassador Team composed of nearly 300 employees across our system who help implement . . .initiatives and promote environmental stewardship at work and home,” McInnis said.

What happens next? If the new products are comfortable and effective, Southwest will retrofit each plane as it comes up for refurbishing. “This would mean that after a decision is made, within four years our fleet of more than 500 aircraft would be completely installed with the new products,” she added.

McInnis has a personal stake in the project. She founded and leads Southwest’s Green Team. “I am personally super excited. A ‘green’ plane has been a hope for a long time, but there are many people at Southwest who . . . are excited about what this means for our company, relating to our commitment to the environment . . . .

“We are all thrilled to see this plane flying.”

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

There is no question the 2010 Toyota Prius is a comfortable compact with enviable fuel economy – we got a smidgen over 50 mpg in a week of driving.

But can you call a $30,000 hybrid an economy car?

2010 Prius

The iconic gasoline-electric hybrid favored by movie stars is all-new for this model year and the third-generation Prius offers more room, more power and more miles per gallon than its predecessors. It’s a pretty neat trick.

George Jetson would feel right at home slipping behind the wheel of the Prius, even if it doesn’t fly. Yet.

A push-button start replaces the old-fashioned key-in-the-ignition system. Another push-button puts the car in park. The tiny gearshift is mounted high on the center console, which arches between the front seats.

The Prius is powered by a larger and more powerful 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine that produces 98 horsepower. Combined with the electric motor, the hybrid system generates a combined 134 net horsepower, 24 horsepower more than the previous generation.

The Prius still won’t snap your head back – the 0-60 mph time nudges 10 seconds – but there is enough power to safely merge onto freeway traffic. And folks don’t buy this car to drag race, anyway.

A feature that allows you to drive on battery power only, although not far and not fast, is pretty cool for driving around the neighborhood.

The cabin is quieter than you typically experience in a compact car, the product of improved sound insulation and improved vibration damping. The interior is classier than most compacts, too. Leather seating. Nicely done fit and finish.

2010 Prius

You can load the Prius with enough electronics to stock a Best Buy. The moonroof package includes solar panels, located over the rear seating area, that power a ventilation system that helps keep the interior air temperature close to the outside ambient temperature to shorten cool-down time when your start driving.

The solar system is part of a $3,600 option package that includes a voice-activated touch-screen DVD navigation system, a JBL sound system with eight speakers and XM satellite radio capability, USB port with iPod connectivity and a surprisingly handy integrated backup camera.

Other options include dynamic radar cruise control, which adjusts your speed to keep a safe distance from the car in front of you.

Anyone still concerned about the longevity of hybrid technology can find some comfort in the warranty coverage. Toyota’s powertrain warranty is five years or 60,000 miles but the hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles. In some states – California and New York among them – hybrid-related components are covered for 15 years/150,000 miles with the exception of the hybrid battery, which is warranted for 10 years/150,000 miles.

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

Related Video from Toyota:

The Nissan LEAF (Photo: Nissan)

From Green Right Now Reports

Nissan North America said it will debut the LEAF zero-emission, all-electric car in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. After Los Angeles, the five-passenger, five-door, gasoline-free car will go on a nationwide tour in the coming months.

The Nissan LEAF Zero Emission Tour will stop in 22 cities, in 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Vancouver, Canada, offering the opportunity for interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students to learn more about the Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving.

Get updates on the final schedule and sign up for more information at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car.

Here are the scheduled stops for the Nissan LEAF:

Southern California

• Los Angeles: Nov. 13-17
• Orange County: Nov. 18
• San Diego: Nov. 19-21

Northern California

• Berkeley/Walnut Creek: Nov. 23-24
• San Francisco: Nov. 25-29
• Santa Rosa: Dec. 1
• Sacramento: Dec. 1
• San Jose: Dec. 3-6

Pacific Northwest

• Seattle: Dec. 8-12
• Vancouver, Canada: Dec. 14-15
• Portland, Ore.: Dec. 17-23

Southwest

• Phoenix/Tucson: Dec. 30-Jan. 5
• Las Vegas: Jan. 6

Midwest/East Coast

• Detroit: Jan. 11-13
• Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn.: Jan. 16
• Middle Tennessee: Jan. 19-21
• Washington, D.C.: Jan. 26-28
• Raleigh, N.C.: Jan. 29
• Orlando: Feb. 1-2

Texas

• Houston: Feb. 5-6

New York

• New York City: Feb. 9-14

Isn’t it great when you can save green and go green at the same time?

Sopo Bike Cooperative in Atlanta

For serious and recreational bicyclists, bike cooperatives across the country are meeting that need. They offer tools to fix your bike, volunteers to teach you how and the support to keep riding. Cooperatives are located in nearly every major city and supported by volunteers, grants and donations.

Atlanta’s Sopo Bicycle Cooperative opened four years ago when one of the founders needed a $40 bike tool  and felt there should be a bike co-op to allow folks to share tools and expertise.

“It’s just a bunch of people interested in cycling,” said Dianna Settles,  Sopo’s volunteer coordinator and a Georgia State University student.

Since most traditional bike stores in Atlanta are north of Ponce De Leon Street, there was a big need to teach people to do bike maintenance south of Ponce. Hence the name – SoPo. The East Atlanta area also has a fair share of lower income residents who need reliable transportation.

The shop runs a youth program during the summer, but it also draws seniors, recreational bikers and commuters.

“It’s a pretty diverse crowd of people and the way the economy is right now it makes more sense to ride a bike,” Settles said. Adding that maintenance on a bike is also cheaper than car maintenance.

Sugggested donations are $5 per part and $5 per hour for use of the tools. Everyone seems happy to comply. And no one is turned away if they don’t have the money. They barter with volunteer time, food and other creative swaps.

The cooperative operates under three mantras:

• Each one teach one
• Right tool for the right job
• Bicycles make the world a better place

One of the rules is “never take a tool out of someone’s hand. We will show someone or get another volunteer’s help. We have books and different manuals,” she said.

On a recent Thursday evening, bicyclists of all shapes and sizes spilled out into Sopo’s parking lot. Bike stands were set up to hold the bikes while making repairs and every spot was filled. The shop is open three nights a week and Saturday afternoon. It’s housed behind a record shop in an up-and-coming urban village of Atlanta.

Bartender Kate Crosby stopped by to work on her bike and met fellow cyclist Stacey Sayles.

Stacey Sayles helps Kate Crosby fix her bike

“This is my second time. I had a flat and need to know how to change a flat,” said Crosby, who works nearby. She drives a “big ole’ truck” and needed to use her antique touring bike for the exercise and to be a little greener.

Sayles calls himself a bike fanatic and relies on two wheels for nearly all his transportation needs. He moved from New Orleans to Atlanta six months ago and said New Orleans has a similar bike co-op.

Longtime volunteer Dana Scott enjoys helping people with their bikes.

“I like teaching people the bike mechanics so they can do it themselves,” said Scott, who uses his bike for commuting, recreation and shopping.

Settles, the volunteer coordinator, agreed.

“We’re all here to help the community, fix bikes and make friends,” Settles said.

To find a bike co-op in your city, check out the International Bicycle Fund website, which also offers tips for Pushing the Green Envelope whilst biking.

For more tips on keeping green while biking see the Intern

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

The EPA has issued a new fuel economy guide for consumers that goes beyond the already standing website, fueleconomy.gov.

The new guide singles out the best-in-class for fuel efficiency in various categories, such as Fuel Economy Leaders: 2010 Model Year (yup, the Prius number 1, but hey luxury lovers, did you know there are two Lexus’s on the top 10 list?)

There’s also a list of the Lowest Fuel Economy Models: 2010 Model Year. Sorry Bentley, Lamborghini and Mercedes lovers, this is where the buck stops. You want to be green, you’ll have to build a new engine to go with those calfskin seats.

The EPA website also points people to the Green Vehicle Guide. This guide looks at both a car’s fuel efficiency and its tail pipe emissions, helping consumers to understand that the greenest, most eco-friendly cars both save on fuel consumption and have cleaner emissions.

The Green Vehicle Guide allows you to plug in a vehicle (pun unintended) and a state to pop up the air pollution and greenhouse gas scores for virtually any new model car you’re considering buying.

We checked out the Honda Insight, in Texas, and found that the new hybrid sedan is rated either an 8 or 9 (on a 10-point scale, with 10 being the best) depending on the engine  for air pollution, and a 10 for greenhouse gas emissions.

Switch your selection to a Chevy Suburban 1500 and the scores dip, to 6 for air pollution and 4 for greenhouse gases for the ethanol 5.3L engine but only 1 for the gasoline-powered 8 cylinder.

So depending on whether you plan on attending environmental rallies or having a family of 8, you can use this guide to decide if the Suburban, the Insight or any other car is right for you.